Unit process of sizing and flattening metal rings



D. F. DARDEN 2,828,538

UNIT PROCESS OF SIZING AND FLATTENING METAL RINGS April 1, 1958 6 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

DONALD Fl DAEDEN Filed Nov. 15, 1956 w NW w w M M M N r m r A M 407 w A w v t w A ril 1, 1958 D. F. DARDEN 2,828,538

UNIT PROCESS OF sxzmc AND FLATTENING METAL RINGS Filed Nov. 15, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 pow/up F. DAEDEN lam-Hg); 444:1? EIKNENNY INVENTOR;

A ril 1, 1958 D. F. DARDEN 2,823,538

UNIT PROCESS OF SIZING AND FLATTENING METAL RINGS Filed Nov. 15, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

1%? 12 I I DONALD F. DAZEOE/V BY E/CHEK W4 7'75, {OGERTON M- NENNY D. F. DARDEN A ril 1, 1958 UNIT PROCESS OF SIZING AND FLATTENING METAL RINGS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed .Nov. 15, 1956 V IN DONALD F.

BY IP/CHEY, WATTS, EDGEETil/i/LNf/V/VY Ev H's ATTORNEYS 1 April 1, 1958 D. F. DARDEN 2,823,538

UNIT PROCESS OF sxzmc AND FLATTENING METAL RINGS Filed Nob. 15, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR. DONALD fi DA7E0N- BY 12/015), WA rrs, EOGE'ETO a MFNE/VNY A rroklv xs United States atent O UNIT PROCESS OF SEEING AND FLATTENING METAL RINGS Donald F. Darden, Denver, Cola, assignor to The American Welding & Manufacturing Co, iver-ran, Shin, a corporation of Ohio Application November 15, 1956, Serial No. 622,493

3 Claims. (Cl. 29-534) The present invention relates generally to the metal working art and is more particularly concerned with a novel method of sizing and flattening metal rings in a single operation.

In the manufacture of metal rings and bands, it has been customary to form the rings undersize as to inside diameter and oversize as to thickness. The rings are then subjected to a sizing operation to expand them to the desired inside diameter and then in a separate operation requiring another piece of equipment they are flattened or thinned. While the resulting articles are satisfactory and the labor required for their mass production in this manner has been substantially reduced through machine design improvements, there still exist certain drawbacks from the standpoint of manufacturing time and equipment cost. However, nothing in the way of successful answer to the problem has, to the best of my knowledge, heretofore been conceived or developed.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to provide a method whereby the cost of manufacturing rings and bands can be materially reduced.

It is a further object of this invention to eliminate the usual substantial time interval between separate forming operations in ring manufacture.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus which will enable the elimination of apparatus heretofore essential to the mass production of rings and bands.

In pursuit of these objects, I have conceived a novel method or procedure by which forming operations involved in the manufacture of metal rings can, in practical effect, be united in time and space so that they may be carried out in a single piece of equipment and by a single actuation of that equipment. Thus, the novel method of this invention comprises, in general, the steps of forming a metal band of inside diameter less than the predetermined inside diameter desired in the final ring product, expanding the band until its inside diameter corresponds to said predetermined inside diameter, and substantially simultaneously reducing the axial dimension of a portion of the band and flattening the band.

In more detail and in accordance with my preference, the method of this invention involves, in the expanding step, the application of pressure radially outwardly against the inner periphery of the band whereby the band is enlarged in diameter to the desired size. Actually, as I prefer to carry out this method, the application of this pressure radially outwardly is against the inner surface of the band at a plurality of locations substantially uniformly spaced through the full 360.

Those skilled in the art will understand that this novel method is particularly adapted to the production of closed or continuous metal rings in general. Thus these bands or rings may be of singleor multiple-flange type and they may be of polygonal as well as circular form. In any event, in the practice of this invention pressure 2,828,538 Patented Apr. 1, 1958 ice ,is axially applied by platen means directly engaging an end portion or flange portion or other radially-extending, exposed part of a ring, and radially-directed pressure is applied against the inner side of the ring as the ring is moved axially. Flattening and sizing are thereby accomplished more or less simultaneously but always in a single operation of a single die assembly. The timing of the actual sizing and flattening steps will be determined by a variety of factors but changes in the sections of the ring and the alterations in the crystal orientation or grain configuration in the ring metal will be eflected in every case.

A further and better understanding of the objects and method of this invention will be gained by those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a press die assembly of this invention with the platen removed, showing the die head in the collapsed or released position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the Fig. 1 assembly taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the platen in outline;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the die head in expanded position;

Fig. 4 is a sectionalview of the Fig. 3 assembly taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the press die assembly of Fig. 1 showing a ram and press platen carried thereby in intermediate position in the operation of the assembly, certain parts being removed in the interest of clarity;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of an assembly similar to that of Fig. 5 with parts removed and showing a forming block of modified form;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a metal band to be sized and flattened in the apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the finished ring product made by the method and with the apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, illustrating the initial relationship between a die head assembly and a metal band of right-angle cross-section;

Fig. 9a is a view of the Fig. 9 band and die after flattening and sizing of the band, prior to collapsing of the die head;

Fig. 10 is a view'similar to Fig. 9, showing another band and die head assembly at a preliminary stage of this invention procedure;

Fig. 11 is still another view similar to Fig. 9, illustrating a double-flange ring or channel and die head at an intermediate stage of the present invention method;

Fig. 12 is another view like Fig. 9 in which another form of band is shown in relation to its die head preliminary to flattening and sizing by this method;

Fig. 13 shows another type of ring and die of this invention in enlarged, transverse section in initial position preparatory to flattening and sizing in one operation;

Fig. 14 is a view like Fig. 13 but showing still another type of closed ring or band and its die assembly;

Fig. 15 shows after the manner of Fig. 13 another flanged-band type and another die assembly embodying this invention;

Fig. 16 likewise resembles Figs. 6, 9 and 13 but shows another type of closed band or ring contemplated by this invention;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the hexagonal ring ring of Fig. 16 after flattening and sizing in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 18 isa fragmentary, bottom plan view of an alternative die head assembly embodying this invention,

taken from a point above the platen or bed of the die apparatus;-

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of ring flattening and sizing apparatus of this invention incorporating the alternative die head illustrated in Fig. 18; and,

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view of the Fig. 19 apparatus showing the die head and bed in ringsizing and flattening relationship.

It will also be understood that the novel method of this invention enables the uniting in space of forming operations involved in the manufacture of metal rings and bands so that they may be carried out in a single piece of equipment through single or multiple actuations or operations of that equipment. In other words, in operations where it is not essential or particularly desirable to carry out all the required forming operations simultaneously, in accordance with the present method they may be carried out in sequence to obtain the desired results without removing the ring article in production from the forming die and without handling the ring between the forming operations. Thus, the method of this invention may be generally defined, in addition to the definition set out above, as comprising the steps of forming a metal band of inside diameter less than the inside diameter desired in the final ring product, placing the band in a die assembly, expanding the band until its inside diameter is of the desired size, reducing the axial dimension of a portion of the band and flattening the band and thereafter removing the band from the die assembly.

In carrying out the method as defined immediately above, using a single die assembly and performing the expanding and reducing operations, i. e. the sizing and flattening operations, in sequence rather than substantially simultaneously as described above, I prefer to carry out a preliminary expansion step and then reduce the axial dimension of a portion of the band and thereafter to expand the band further until its inside diameter is of the final desired size. Following these steps, the band is removed from the die assembly in finished form, as to size and shape. In some instances, I have found it preferable to carry this preliminary forming further so that the band is partially flattened and partially sized and then finish flattened and finish sized in the single die assembly.

it may be desirable in certain manufacturing operations to reverse the sequence of the sizing and flattening operations of the method of this invention so that following the placing of the metal band in the die assembly, the band is subjected to a flattening operation and then is expanded to the desired inside diameter. This variation of the present method, however, is clearly within the general concept of this invention and is within the definition thereof set out above.

in general, the novel die apparatus of this invention comprises axially-reciprocating and radially-expandable abutment means to engage an inner circumferential portion of a ring to be sized and flattened, platen means movable generally axially relative to the ring to engage the ring directly and thereby move the ring and the abutment means axially. This apparatus also includes means engaging the abutment means to expand the abutment means and thereby apply a force radially outwardly against the inside surface of the ring to size said ring as it is moved axially under the force delivered to the abutment means by the platen means acting through the ring.

The embodiment of this invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a lower plate mounted on bed B of a conventional hydraulic press of suitable size. A plunger 12 of tapered octagonal shape is mounted on the lower plate 10 with its base bolted to the plate. An upper plate '14 is disposed above plate 10 and has a central opening 15 through which plunger 12 projects. Four piston and guide rods 17 are secured to plate 14 4 near its corners and extend through guide bushings 18 in plate 18 and into pneumatic cylinders 20 where they terminate in enlarged diameter portions 21 to serve as pistons for moving the upper plate upwardly to collapse the head. Air pressure to operate the assembly and return plate 14 to its starting position after each forming operation is provided by means of conduits which communicate with the lower portion of cylinders 20 and with a suitable source of compressed air (not shown).

The ol a sible head assembly comprises eight segments 23 which .1 carried by plate 14 for reciprocating movement across the upper face of this plate as this upper plate is reciprocated vertically relative to plunger 12. The segments 23 are held in line on plate 14 by pieshaped lOClCS between plates 37 and 14 and are thus guided. The inner face of each segment is tapered and fitted with a bearing 26 for sliding engagement with a face of the plunger. An anchor block 27 is provided for each segment 23 and secured to the top of plate 14 in position to support a compression spring 29 which is received in an outwardly-opening recess 30 in its segment 23. By means of block 27 and spring 29, each segment is held firmly in contact with its tapered face of plunger 12 at all times and the segment is thus moved inwardly when the upper plate is elevated with the result that the head is collapsed when platen pressure is released.

A replaceable block 32 is provided for each of segments 23 and is held in contact in each instance with its segment by means of a T-slot bolt 34 carried by the block 32 and received in T-slot 35 provided for this purpose in the outside vertical faces of each segment to facilitate interchange of blocks of various sizes and shapes. An annular retainer plate 37 supports blocks 32 in position at all times and is fastened in place in respect to plate 14 by means of cap screws so that in opening and collapsing the head, each block 32 and its segment in each instance slide horizontally across the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of plate 37 and the parts are thus maintained in position relative to plunger 12 for carrying out the desired forming operations of the present invention method.

A backup ring 40 is supported by plate 37 being attached adjustably thereto for the purpose of limiting the downward motion of plate 14 and the opening of the die head and for the purpose of light forging and accurate sizing of ring products.

A suitably fixed stop block 44 thereof is situated on top of plate 10 for engagement with the upper plate to limit vertical travel of plate 14 and the die head and radial movement outward of blocks 32.

The press platen to move the collapsible head and expand it comprises a ram 53 suitably of conventional construction and a generally cone-shaped head 54 having an annular base flange 55 and an axial aperture 57 of enlarged diameter. Head 54 is suitably a casting and is removably secured to the end of ram 53 by means of a plurality of clamps 58 attached adjustably to the ram by bolts 59. Aperture 57 is of such diameter that the upper portion of plunger 12 may be received in head 54 in operation of the assembly. The downwardly disposed end of head 54 is provided with a flat annular surface 60 to engage the flange of a ring product to be flattened throughout the period of operation of the assembly.

In the use of the apparatus of this invention, flanged ring R to be flattened and sized is disposed in engagement with blocks 32 and the platen head is brought into engagement with the collapsible head and ring R. Pressure is then applied to the ring and segments 23 by operation of ram 53 driving head 54 downwardly and forcing plate 14 toward the press bed whereby the collapsible head of the die is opened until motion of the ram is stopped against backup ring 40 or stop block 44, or both. Continued application of pressure by the ram to the ring results in flattening or thinning of the flanged portion of the ring and possibly also light forging of the ring peripheral portion, depending upon the relative positions of ring and block 44. When the sizing and flattening operations have been completed, the ram is returned to its starting position and plate 14 is forced upwardly by piston and guide rods 17 actuated by pneumatic pressure in cylinders 20 and the collapsible heads of the platen and die are collapsed with the result that the finished ring product is released for withdrawal from the assembly. understood that the sizing and flattening will take place almost invariably during the time that plate 14 is being moved downwardly and final flattening may be accomplished after this motion of plate 14 has been stopped against block 44 or ring 40. The amount of flattening accomplished prior to the time that this plate motion ceases will depend upon such factors as the nature of the metal of ring R, the temperatiure of that portion of the ring and the pressure applied to ring R in accomplishing the enlargement of the inside diameter of the ring by opening of the head.

As indicated above the method and apparatus of this invention are applicable to a wide variety of closed metal rings. Thus it is not essential to the securing of important advantages of this invention that the rings be flanged or channel shaped or of any particular cross-sectional shape and it is not necessary that they be circular, these important advantages being obtainable with rings of elliptical or polygonal shape such as hexagonal or octagonal bodies. Also it is not necessary that the rings be initially engaged around their inside surface with the sizing abutment means. It is only essential that in the initial stage the ring be supported on the abutment means for direct engagement of the platen means with an end surface or flange top surface of the ring. In the intermediate forming stage and the final stages of sizing and flattening, it is essential in accordance with my present invention that the abutment means bear against the inner circumferential surface of the ring in order that a sizing force can be applied effectively to the ring as desired. In addition, it is necessary that the platen means be firmly engaged with the top or end surface of the ring to maintain the flattening and sizing force required for suflicient time to accomplish the desired shape changes in the ring. Preferably the engagement of the platen is with an annular surface of an end of the ring and the ring is supported against the platen force thus applied by means engaging the under or opposite end surface of the ring such as the under side of a flange against the top side of which the platen means bears. Also according to my preference the abutment means engages the inner peripheral surface of the body of a ring at the spaced locations around the circumference of the ring.

In Figs. 9 and 9a an initial and final relationship is illustrated wherein a flanged or angle shaped ring 60 is sized and flattened in accordance with this invention on a collapsible head die 61. In this instance, the ring is supported against platen (not shown) by an abutment which bears against the underside of the flange of ring 60 and the lower end of the ring is spaced from the opposed surface of head 61. Also the inner surface of the body of the ring is spaced from the opposing surface of the head 61. Likewise, the inner end of the flange of ring 60 is spaced from the opposing surface portion of head 61.

As ring 60 is pressed against head 61 under force applied by the platen head 61 and ring 60 are moved axially of the ring after the manner described above and the ring ultimately is engaged with all opposing surface portions of head 61 as shown in Fig. 9a. Under this condition it is seen that sizing is accomplished in both the body and the flange portions of the ring when further head travel axially of the ring is caused by force delivered to the ring by the platen. By regulating the initial spacing between the various radially opposed surface portions of the head and ring, sizing can be accomplished as to a It will be 6 specific portion of the ring and sizing of the flange and body can be carried out according to various'ratios.

Another type of flanged ring 63 is illustrated in Fig. 10 in initial engagement with a collapsible head 64 of the type specifically described hereinabove.

In Fig. 11 a channel section ring 65 is mounted on a collapsible head 66 in starting position for the flattening and sizing operations of this invention. In this case, as in Figs. 9 and 10, the platen (not shown) is brought into engagement with the upper exposed portion of the ring which projects above the top surface of the head element so that all the force to accomplish the flattening and sizing results is applied to the ring itself and thereby to the head.

Fig. 12 illustrates still another type of ring 67 in initial position for flattening and sizing operation of this invention on a collapsible head 68 of my invention.

Another circular ring 70 of generally channel cross section is disposed on a collapsible head 71 as illustrated in Fig. 13 also in initial or starting position for these flattening and sizing operations.

In Fig. 14 a channel shaped ring 72 is shown in mating engagement with an abutment means comprising collapsible head 73 of the hereinabove specifically described type. This also represents an initial relationship but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that it may be a final or an intermediate relationship inasmuch as the ring inner surfaces are illustrated in engagement with the opposed outer surfaces of the abutment device. a

Fig. 15 illustrates still another type of circular ring 75 and collapsible head 76. Here again the relationship may be initial, intermediate or final due to the relative positions of the ring and head element illustrated.

In Fig. 16 a non-circular ring 78 which is axiallyhexagonal as shown in Fig. 17 is mounted in position on a collapsible head 79 for flattening and sizing operations of this invention. In this case there are six wedge-shaped units 80 which make up the collapsible head 79 and have outer surfaces as illustrated in Fig. 16 which bear against the inner surfaces of ring 78 on the siX sides of that ring. Ring 78 is supported in position for engagement of platen (not shown) with the upper or top end surface of the ring.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 18 to 20, inclusive, comprises a press bed or stationary platen and a collapsible press head comprising essentially wedge 98, base plate 107 and movable segments 104. This head is mounted for reciprocation relative to the bed along a vertical line constituting the common axis of the head and bed. Bed 85 is mounted on a suitable foundation to withstand the forces applied by the die head operating through a ring work piece 87 to be sized and flattened through the use of this apparatus. This bed includes a base member 89 having a generally circular top surface, a ram plate 90, an upper wear plate 91 and a lower wear plate 92 mounted on the base member 89 in vertical alignment therewith. The upper surface of plate 91, like the lower surface of plate 92, is substantially flat and smooth so that the ram plate assembly rests squarely upon base member 89 and to afford a good foundation and mounting facility for work piece 87.

The collapsible press head includes a plunger or wedge 98 similar in structure and function to plunger-12 of the press die assembly illustrated in Fig. 1. Thus this wedge is of tapered octagonal form and in this instance the plunger is hollow and its smaller end portion is directed downwardly for receipt in ram plate of the bed as the head is moved toward work piece 87. Member 98 is carried by a reciprocating press member 101 connected by an annular head plate 102 carried by the press member and by cap screws 183.

The collapsible head also includes eight segments 104 which are uniformly spaced around the tapered sides of wedge 98, each segment having a face portion opposed to one of the eight faces of the wedge, as shown to best advantage in Fig. 18. As in the case of the collapsible head assembly of the press die of Fig. 1, the segments of this die are spring mounted and therefore are constantly resiliently urged against plunger 98, compression springs 105 being provided for this purpose and maintained in place adjustably as to spring pressure by means of spring screws 106. Each segment 104 carries a wear plate 10% for engagement at all times with wedge 98. Base plate 107 supports segments 104 for sliding engagement radially of the assembly against wear plates 168 disposed in the lower face portions of plate 107. This base plate is also provided with a central opening through which wedge d8 projects and said plate 107 is in turn supported by the press head through a plurality of hydraulic cylinders 110 mounted on head plate 102. A piston rod 1111 extending through the lower end of each cylinder 116 is secured by means of a nut 112 to base plate 107, as shown in Fig. 20.

A hold-down plate 114 maintains each segment 164 in position with respect to base plate Hi7, these hold-down plates being supported by plate 107. A die insert 115 in the form of a ring is carried by the collapsible die head assembly for engagement with the inner circumferential surface of work piece 87 to be sized and flattened by this apparatus. Preferably as illustrated, this insert member 115 will be of less axial length than the final axial dimension desired in the sized and flattened ring product.

This is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 482,775, filed January 19, 1955,'now abandoned.

Having thus described this invention in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, and having set forth the best mode contemplated of carrying out this invention, 1 state that the subject matter which I regard as being my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in what is claimed, it being understood that equivalents or modifications of, or substitutions for, parts of the above specifically described embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In the manufacture of a metal ring having a body portion and an annular flange, flattening and sizing operations including the steps of mounting the ring on axiallyreciprocating, radially-expandable abutments with the under surface of the flange engaged with the abutments around the circumference of the ring, bringing an annular platen against only the upper surface of the flange and, while resisting axial movement of said abutment in one direction, applying a primary force to the platen sufiicient o u to overcome the resistance to axial movement of the abutment and thereby moving the ring axially, radially expanding the abutments and thereby simultaneously expanding the ring and sliding the flange radially outwardly against the platen, and applying an axial resultant component of the primary force to the upper surface of the flange and thereby flattening the said ring.

2. In the manufacture of a metal ring having a body portion and an annular flange, flattening and sizing operations including the steps of mounting the ring on axially reciprocating, radially expandable abutments with the under surface of the flange engaged with the abutments around the circumference of the ring, bringing an annular platen against only the upper surface of the flange and, while fiuidically resisting axial movement of the abutments in one direction by applying a primary force to the platen suflicient to overcome said resistance and thereby simultaneously moving the ring axially in said direction, radially expanding the abutments and thereby expanding the ring and sliding the flange radially outwardly against the platen, and applying an axial resultant component of the primary force to the upper surface of the flange and thereby flattening the ring.

3. In the manufacture of a metal ring having a circumferentiaily continuous body portion, flattening and sizing operations including the steps of mounting the ring on axially reciprocating, radially movable abutments engaging the under surface of the ring, bringing an annular platen against only the upper surface of the ring and, while resisting axial movement of the abutments in one direction, applying a primary force to the platen sufficient to overcome said resistance and thereby simultaneously moving the ring axially in said direction, moving said abutments radially and thereby changing the diameter of the ring and sliding said ring radially against said platen and applying an axial resultant component of the primary force to the upper surface of the ring and thereby flattening the ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,811 Orcutt et al Dec. 26, 1882 606,675 Marcy July 5, 1898 1,468,549 Wootten Sept. 18, 1923 1,774,809 Muhlbach Sept. 2, 1930 1,926,400 Palmer Sept. 12, 1933 2,324,982 Kuhn July 20-, 1943 2,652,620 Sutowski Sept. 22, 1953 

